Spiral chute device

Abstract

A spiral chute device, especially for use in conveying seed materials to storage chambers. The spiral chute device is employed for guiding the seed material downwardly in the storage chamber to prevent the seed material from undergoing free fall which could lead to cracking thereof. The device is, preferably, suspended from the top wall of the chamber and has a hopper at the top with an upwardly opening spiral chute extending downwardly therefrom to near the bottom of the chamber. The device includes a center post telescopically engaged by a guide member at the center of the bottom wall of the chamber and the device can be moved laterally in the chamber by disengaging the lower end of the post from the guide member. When the device is disengaged from the guide member and swung laterally in the chamber, the bottom of the chamber is exposed and seed material therein can then be swept into a discharge channel formed in the bottom wall of the chamber whereby substantially all the seed material can be removed from the chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A spiral chute device for use in supplying seed material and the like without damage to a storage chamber having top and bottom wall means and side wall means; said chute device comprising a hopper disposed near the top wall means for receiving material to be stored in the chamber and having a bottom opening, and an upwardly opening spiral chute leading from said bottom opening in the hopper downwardly to above and near the bottom wall means of the chamber, said chute preventing the material from undergoing more than a predetermined amount of free fall from said spiral chute when supplied to the chamber, support means for swingably connecting said hopper to the top wall means of the chamber, a center post to which said chute is connected, and the lower end of said post being formed for adjustably engaging guide means on the bottom wall means of the chamber whereby disengagement of said center post from the guide means will permit swinging of said post and the chute connected thereto laterally in the chamber. 
     
     
       2. A spiral chute device for use in supplying seed material and the like without damage to a storage chamber having top and bottom wall means and the side wall means; said chute device comprising a hopper disposed near the top wall means for receiving material to be stored in the chamber and having a bottom opening, and an upwardly opening spiral chute leading from said bottom opening in the hopper downwardly to above and near the bottom wall means of the chamber, said chute preventing the material from undergoing more than a predetermined amount of free fall from said spiral chute when supplied to the chamber, a center post to which said chute is connected, and flexible support means for swingably connecting said chute device to the top wall means of the chamber to permit swinging of said post and the chute connected thereto laterally in the chamber. 
     
     
       3. A spiral chute device according to claim 2 wherein said spiral chute includes a spiral wrapping of a strip of material connected to said center post and bounded by an upstanding wall which is generally perpendicular to the spirally wrapped strip. 
     
     
       4. A spiral chute device according to claim 2 in which the center post includes an adjustable sleeve telescopically received within said center post, said adjustable sleeve adapted to engage a fixed member located on the bottom wall means to provide lateral stabilization of the lower end of the center post. 
     
     
       5. A spiral chute device according to claim 2 in which said chute in cross section has a horizontal bottom wall and an outer side wall upstanding from the bottom wall, said center post forming the inner wall of the chute. 
     
     
       6. A spiral chute device according to claim 5 in which said bottom wall of the chute is welded to said center post on the side of the bottom wall of the chute facing downwardly away from the chamber. 
     
     
       7. A spiral chute device according to claim 5 in which said side wall is a vertical strip welded to said bottom wall on the side of the bottom wall facing downwardly away from the center. 
     
     
       8. A spiral chute device according to claim 2 in which said flexible support means provide the entire support for said device in the chamber and guide means being arranged for telescopic engagement with the lower end of said center post while the post can be disengaged from the guide means by vertical movement of the post to permit the device to be moved laterally in the chamber.